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Detailed local account of plea realities (and state/federal disparities)

By Douglas A. Berman

The Iowa City Press Citizen has this notable piece discussing local plea practices. The piece, which is titled "Plea deals: Are they soft or necessary?", covers a story surely familiar to many practitioners, but one that is not often fully appreciated by the public (or many academics).  Here are some excerpts: From 2002 to 2007, Iowa City police officers charged 74 people with second-degree robbery.  Sixty-one of those arrests -- or 82 percent -- resulted in pleas to or convictions of lesser offenses, according to a review of court records.  However, while that number might seem high, it's actually in line with national figures.... Tom Sneddon, interim executive director of the National District Attorney Association, said that doesn't mean 95 percent of cases are plea bargained, however...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on February 04, 2009 (boomark / email).